Tubular bells (also known as chimes) are musical instruments in the percussion family. Each bell is a metal tube, 30–38 mm (1¼–1½ inches) in iameter, tuned by altering its length.They range from C4 (middle C) to F5. Tubular bells are often replaced by Studio Chimes which are a smaller and usually less expensive instrument. Studio chimes are similar in appearance to Tubular bells, but each bell has a smaller diameter than the corresponding bell on Tubular Bells.